WHEN Parliament is sitting towards the end of the week, the swathes of empty green benches are a disgrace.

Given that Parliament is only in session about seven months of the year, surely the least MPs could do is to be at work when they should be. Nipping off early for the weekend is endemic.

They are not only taking the expenses, they are taking the proverbial. As millions of workers have to do, perhaps now is the time for MPs to have a clock card.

If they were paid only for measured time worked, you can be sure it would be standing room only until the Westminster hooter sounded. We would save £60,000 a year on the absent Gordon Brown for a start.

The best attended debates? Yes, you’ve guessed it – when debating their own salaries. That says it all really.

Geoff Robb, Hunters Close, Dunnington.